Parents to get online safety advice

Parents will be advised on how to keep their children safe online during a seminar today.

It comes after a survey revealed 70% of young people used social networking sites yet fewer than half of all parents are familiar with them.

The seminar will feature John Carr, an international expert on social networking and advisor to the UK government, and Bebo chief safety officer Dr Rachel O’Connell.

Parents will be able to talk to young people using such sites on a daily basis who will demonstrate how they work.

The seminar comes amid growing concerns about the popularity of social networking sites, which children’s support campaigners claim can leave young people vulnerable to paedophiles if they post too much personal information.

Concerns have also been expressed about suicide pacts being formed through websites.

It will run from 8.30am to 10am in Dublin’s Conrad Hotel.